Nailing-machine.



H. C. NEFF.

NAILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.25. 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Apr. 23

, v q Z R. c. NEFF NAILING MACHINE. I APPLICATION FILED APR- 25| I9I4.

Patented Apr. 23,1918.

III I f .7 2 x NI J-.. W

w. c T R E 8 o R NI E FF ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

plication filed EQBERT CASSELLMAN NEFF, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 CL F. JBOKER, 015 NEW YORK, N. Y.

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To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT C. Nnrr, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nailing-Machines, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof. My invention relates to nailing machines, and has for an object to provide pneumatic means for conveying nails from the feeding to the driving mechanism, having reference more particularly to means for introducing pneumatic pressure into the nail conducting tubes, not only to convey the nails there through, incidentally clearing the nail ducts of foreign matter, but at the same time to support the nails in any position in which it may be necessary to hold them preparatory to being started into the material into which they are to be-driven.

Generally described, my invention applies to that class of machines in which'nailing chucks are employed, either singly or in series, with corresponding nail feeding grooves and means for transferring nails from each of 'the grooves into the top of a corresponding tube, when employed in series, and in which the nails are conducted thence into the nail chuck to which it re lates, such for example as the nail selecting mechanism illustrated in my co-pending ap- April 23d, 1914, Serial No.

More particularly described, my invention comprises mechanism for introducing air into the top of the nail conducting tubes, extending-to and enteringthe body of the nail driving chucks, and devices for controlling the pressure as to the timing of the impulse and the direction, of the current thereof. To this end a sliding bar. with openings over the nail tubes is employed to prevent air escaping through the top of the tubes at the moment the air is introduced into the same, and hence the pressure of the blast will be directed in the opposite direction to pass through the nailing chuck; the slide cut-off is then returned to its former or normal position, opening the tubes at the t to re e h n l f m th f ed Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. %3, Emit Application filed April 25, 1914. Serial ltd-834,398.

ing mechanism. The manner of transferring the nails into these tubes may be'that employed in connection with any of the wellknown nail feeding devices, except in so far as modified by the-special means provided by my invention for introducing the air into 2--2 of Fig. 1, with other mechanism dia- I metrically illustrated therewith. Fig. 3 is a partial view similar to parts shown in Fig. 2 and portions shown in moved posi tions. Fig. 4 is a plan view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2, showing in addition air sup ply and controlling mechanism. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the mechanism for feeding nails into the tubes. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 5 showing a portion of the parts. Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 show the controller mechanism, Fig. 7 showing the same infront elevation with parts removed, Fig. 8 being a sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 7

Referring to the drawings: 1 represents an ordinary metal tube, preferably made of brass or copper or other non-corrosive metal, which is connected at one end to a nail feeding mechanism and at the other to a nail driving chuck such as shown in Fig. '2.

The tube 1 (employed in any desired number) is closed throughout its length and to locate the mechanism in which the nail is held until acted upon by the mechanical driving parts.

The nail selecting and feeding mechanism comprises a common form of inclined cast ing 3 having a series of parallel vertical slots 4 .arranged longitudinally therem, which chute casting is attached at its upper portion to the post or standard 5,'which 1s suitably supported on the nailing mach ne in connection with which it is desired to be operated.

At the bottom of the nail feeding chute 3 is a series of vertical nail receiving chambers 6, corresponding in number and arrangement with the parallel vertical slots 4 cut in said chute, each of said chambers being placed slightly to one side of the lower terminus of a corresponding slot 4, there being a lateral passageway or opening 7 communicating between the said slot and chamber, said opening being of sufficient depth to permit the passage of a nail as it is suspended by its head while being transferred from the bottom of a slot into one of said chambers 6, which chambers constitute the tops of corresponding nail conducting tubes 1. Any convenient means may be employed for thus' removing the nail from the bottom of the chute into the chamber 6, and there releasing it to be conducted to the driving chuck, but in the form illustrated a reciprocating notched bar 10 is provided, which is slidably supported in suitable hearings in the chute casting 3, any

- convenient means being employed to impart the proper reciprocal motion thereto. The edge of the slide 10 which is adjacent the nail conducting slots 4 has a series of transverse vertical grooves, or notches 11 so arranged therein that when the slide is in its normal position of rest, a notch 11 stands opposite each of the slots 4, and is of suiticient depth to contain the'body of a single nail, diametrically considered, so that as the slide 10 is reciprocated longitudinally it will carry a nail laterally from each of the slots 4 into corresponding vertical nail receiving chamber 6, the straight surface of the slide between the notches acting in the meantime as a' s'upport'against the columns of nails in the slots from each of which a nail has been removed in the manner described.

Thus while the slide is being carried into the position in which the notches 11 register with the individual nail receiving chambers 6 having brought the nails immediately over said-chambers, each nail has during the process been forced out of the notch 11 of the slide which has thus drawn it through the opening 7, by means of a stationary cam bar 12 which has a series of cam surfaces 13', against each of which the head or body of the nail impinges while being removed by the slide 10 from a slot 4 to an opening 6 in a nail tube 1, The nail is therefore by action of said cam surface forced out of the notch 11 and if slightly raised may rest for an instant with its head upon the beveled edge 14 at the top of the bar 12, and drops immediately into the tubular chamber 6, whereupon the nail having been thus precipitated into the chamber 6, it immediately passes into the nail conducting tube 1, in axial alinement therewith, at which point it takes its course to the particular nail driving chucks 40, 40, to which that tube relates.

In the form illustrated the top portion of the tube 1 is enlarged to form an outer casing or tube 17 at the point where it joins the chamber 6, and has within it pointing downwardly a nozzle-like inner tube 16 the nail guiding'bOre of which is of substantially the same diameter as that of the tube 1, and therefore by the insertion of the inner tube at the point where an annular chamber l7 is formed, which is closed at its top .but at the bottom opens through the annular space formed at the end of the inner tube 16 into the nail conducting tube 1. Extending through the wall of the inclosing outer tube 17 are openings 18 designed for the admission of air from a source, presently to oe traced, into said annular chamber and thence into the nail conducting tube 1 which receives its nails as they drop from the inner tube 16 in the manner above described. The

air by being introduced into the chamber tion has nevertheless been found in practice to produce greater efliciency in controlling the nails within the tubes 1 than when the air is conducted directly into the tube 15 by the ordinary Y- or T-joint construction.

The outer tubes 17 are arranged in the form illustrated in two. similar series within air chambers 20, 20 provided in the casting 21 (Figs. 2 and 1). Each of the tubes is adapted to fit into a correspondingly threaded orifice in the top of the said chambered casting by means of which its lower or shouldered end is brought against the bottom of said casting to form an air tight union therewith in both the upper and lower walls thereof. The outer tube 17 has its orifice threaded at both ends having the inner tube 16 above mentioned, which is correspondingly threaded at its top, screwed into the upper end thereof and concentrically aeearea with diderent classes of nailing chucks and then only when it is required to Inaintam the air pressure during different periods and at ,difierent times within respective classes of said chucks, the said chambers being identical in construction and function one with the other; and therefore the broad features of my invention would be complied with in employing only the single chamber construction connecting with all chucks.

The tubes 17 thus inclosed within said air tight chambers 20, 20*, each of which cham-v bers in turn communicates directly with a supply pipe 28,29 in the hollow post 5, to which the mechanism of my invention is attached, by means of ducts 26, 27 in the hollow supporting arms which completes the air passage from the source of supply into chambers 20, 20. The chambered sup porting arm 25 rigidly attached to the bracket 5 at the top of the post 5 is simied collar at the bottom and with it the top 1 larly connected as a support to the bottom. portion of the Chute castlng 3, to which in turn the chambered casting 21 is also secured, said chambered casting in the form shown being substantially of the same width as the chute casting.

The outer tubes 17 have their orifices also at the lower ends threaded to receive the upper end of a union piece 23 which has upon its respective right and left hand threads, the lower threaded end entering a similarly threadedcolla'r 24 into which the flaring top proper of the tube 15 is held within an air-tight opening; hence, as the union piece 23 is turned to enter the outer tube 17 it simultaneously draws the thread of the tube 1 contained therein into an air tight connection with the outer tube 17 to which it relates. The nail conducting channel thus formed continuously through the said inner tube, and union piece is substan-' tially of an equal bore with that of the tube itself, it being necessary to facilitate the passage of nails therethrough to remove all square shoulders at all points of intersec-v tion between the different members; it will therefore be found preferable to have theupper end of the bore within the union piece 23 made flaring in the Same manner that the top of the tube is constructed with a funnel mouthed opening at the annular chamber 17.

At the top of the inner tubes 16, resting upon the air chamber casting 21, is a'cut-ofi slide 30 adapted to reciprocate within suitable bearings supplied by said casting 21 and the chute casting 3 which unite at that point.-

The slide 30 it will be seen travels in a plane parallel to that of the escapement slide 10 immediately below the latter, and therefore the slide'30 may be attached to the other, as shown in Fig. 3, or made integral therewith, it being thus conveniently arranged to actuwhich the nail is guided, does so at the time ate both slides by the same mechanism.

Longitudinally disposed in'the cut-off slide slide 30 is carried into its forward position to bring the series of holes 31 under the nail receiving chambers 6 at the moment when the nail ejecting slide 10 has delivered the nails into position to be dropped into corresponding chambers 6, so as to permit the nails to pass through corresponding opening 31 in the slide, and thence into the appropriate nail conducting tubes 1 to the chucks .40, 40 The cut-ofi' slide 30 is thereupon carried back into position to interpose its solid portion as a valve between the nail conducting tubes of the chamber 6 and the inner tube 16, thereby becoming an efi'ectual obstacle to the flow of air through the inner tube 16, which in closing the duct through when the nail ejecting slide 10 is returning to its initial actuating position, for the reason that the two slides move together. The air thus revented from escaping through the top of the tube 16 is forced downwar ly through the tubes 16 and into the nail conducting channels 1 to the chucks 40, and if applied in sufficient volume the pressure thereof may not only carry the nail which had previously been introduced into the tube to be carried into the chuck and thus properly held until acted upon thereby.

The chucks employed in connection with my invention may conform in general features to those in common use, and 'I shall therefore describe such common types as used therewith, having yielding jaws for guiding the nails'as they are forced into the material by.,a longitudinally driven plunger of the usual reciprocating variety, into which chuck the nails descend by action of gravity. In this class of chucks the nail is usually held in substantially an upright position, standing upon its point upon the guiding jaws until the plunger descends to 11s force it between the jaws to enter the material into which it is to be driven. It is therefore apparent that chucks of such type with out special means being provided for the purpose could not successfully handle nails to be driven upwardly in either a vertlcal or other direction above the horizontal. Even in employing chucks in this manner for driving nails upon horizontal lines, it 1s found in practice that provision must be made to prevent nails from rebounding into unwieldy positions when it is found necessary as is often the case to bring them from any considerable height.

Therefore, irrespective of the angle at which it is desired to drive the nails by means of my apparatus, I employ the simplestform f chuck 40, 40 having spring yielding jaws pivoted to the body portion at the forward end of the plunger tube 42 which is longitudinally disposed midway of the body of the chuck, having a branch tube 44 uniting therewith in which a corresponding nail conducting tube 15 terminates. The plunger 45 has the usual rounded head 46 and compression spring 47 upon the stem thereof, one end of the spring bearing against the end of the chuck, the opposite end against the plunger head, the length of spring being sufficient to carry the nail contacting end 48 of the plunger back of the point where the nail is carried into the plunger bore 43. The jaws on the other hand are placed at a suliicient distance from the point of union of the branch 44 to permit the nail to enter the bore 43 having its point adjacent the jaws and its head in advance of the plunger in the direct line of travel thereof, when carried forward by means of the usual nail driving plate, which action it 'S thought not necessary to illustrate in connection with the present invention. Nor is it deemed necessary to point out the mode of operation of the plunger in connection with the chuck except to show that it is necessary to sustain the nail in a position directly in front of the plunger while that member is being forced in the direction thereof, until the end 48 of the plunger con- 3 tacts the head of the nail and forces it outwardly through the jaws of the chuck.

It will be apparent that the nail may be held within the cavity immediately in front of the plunger, which will be termed the 40 nail containing chamber 49, by introducing a1r pressure into the tube 15 and thence through the branch 44 thereof into the body of the nail chuck. In order to sustain the nail in such position, whether horizontal or 45 vertical, an outlet having been provided for the air through suitable openings in the jaws to ma1ntain constant pressure against the nail whose point, in turn, is held against the aws of the chuck. Such an outlet is furmshed by the usualnail guiding groove,

which in the form of chuck illustrated comprises two V-shaped grooves longitudinally dlsposed in the opposite faces of the chuck jaws, so that the open part of one of'said grooves registers exactly with thatof the other groove. The nail guiding grooves 50 provide a suflicient vent for the air to create the forward pressure thereof while the nail.

is being carried into the chuck, and until 6 the point reaches the opening formed by the grooves when the nail will partially close such channel of escape into the air. It is therefore found necessary to have other openings through the jaws, which in pro or- M tion to he 51m o the tube and the welght of nail to be supported by the air pressure introduced therein may be varied as to diameter, it being only necessary to point out that the cross section area of the vent, as has been found in practice, need be no greater than-that of thenail guiding grooves in the corresponding faces of the jaws.

The device thus far explained is seen to be applicable to chucks operated at any desired angle, to drive nails in any direction, and may therefore be employed with chucks driving upwardly in a vertical line as illustrated by chuck 40 (Fig. 2), as well as in the horizontal as shown -by the position of chuck 40 in the same view.

In driving nails vertically upward, the air pressure will necessarily have to be maintained until the nail plunger 46 has advanced slightly beyond the point of the introduction of the air therein when it automatically shuts off the pressure, no longer needed; but in connection with the horizontally driven nails, it is only required to employ pressure in connection 'with the nail until it has reached its position and comes to a standstill, where it will remain without continuing the pressure until the plunger overtakes it. Therefore, in practice I have found it an economy in the'operation of my mechanism to introduce between the initial source 'of pressure and the supply pipe 25 connected with the tubes and chucks, what may be designated as a controller or timin device which comprises two chambere members 61 and 62 respectively which are circular in form and arranged in axial alinement upon a shaft 63, which is loosely mounted in said members and is driven positively through connection with the nail driying mechanism in .the proper timing ratio therewith. To the shaft 63 is keyed the disk 66 separating the chambered members whose only means of communication is the aperture in said disk, said aperture having two of its sides radially disposed. The member 61 contains a single chamber, but the other member adjacent thereto is radially subdivided into three chambers or compartments 67, 68 and 69, and has an annular recess at the inner edge of the member 62 whose bottom is flush with the tops of the radial partitions forming said compartments. The disk 66 thereupon is made to fit upon the outer walls of these compartments as well as upon the bottom of said annular recess, forming with its even surface air tight contact with all the walls of said compartments, being held thereon by means of a compression spring 70, so as to create a pressure chamber ineach of the said compartments whenever the radial aperture 65 may come into communication therewith.

The opposite face of the disk 66 forms one side of the chamber 61 into which through an inlet 61 the air is supplied from III meager a constant air supply, preferably a rotary compressor, or a reservoir which is capable of maintaining uniform pressure, the disk 64 forming the supporting wall between the chamber 61 and the compartments 67, 68 and v 69 of the chamber 62; and hence, as the radial aperture 65 of the disk 64 passes into position OVer the successive compartments of said chamber 62, they will in turn receive the entire pressure from the source thereof, which it will be seen continues to flow into the chucks 40 or 40 respectively, in accordance with the order in which they are connected with said chamber.

A conduit pipe 28 leads from the said chambers 67 to supply corresponding air chambers 20, 20 and a like conduit connects the chamber 68, which in turn supplies the tubes 1 to the respective chucks 40, 40, and the other chamber 69 may be piped to a storage reservoir or simply act as an exhaust in the open air.

The chambers 67 and 68 are arranged in; the order named relatively to the rotation of the disk 64 and-hence the chamber 20 in communication with the compartment 67, which receives its air first, contains those tubes 16 which supply both nails and air pressure to the chucks 40 that operate horizontally upon their nails. The compartment 68 is connected in the manner indicated with the chamber 20 containing the tubes that connected with the chamber 67 which reducting tubes 1 in the manner already described, which connect with horizontal nail ing chucks 40, the circumferential length of said compartment having been desi ned to maintain the air pressure in said tube only until the nail reaches the chuck and comes to rest, the aperture of the rotatin disk 64 passing from said chamber 67 wil shut.

0d the passage of air into said chamber and open communication with the next succeeding chamber '68, it becoming thus apparent that the amount of pressure for the full battery of nailing chucks is appreciably-resure.

duced into the chucks at the proper time and may be maintained in certain of the chuck throughout a specified period. The exhaust chamber therefor occupies the space between the ending of this compartment 68 and the beginning of the compartment 67 and may be said to represent the difi'erence between periods of rotation of the disk when it is not actively engaged in regulating the air pressure to the respective sets of healing chucks.

It is therefore deemed necessary only to gear or other positive connection between the said shafts, but the sprocket form has in practice been found ample for all the re quirements of such a device.

While 1 haveshown the tubes that run to the chuck 40 of one class connected to one chamber 20, and those that connect with the other chucks a supported by a difierent chamber and have in that manner pointed out a way to regulate the air supply to the difl'erent chucks, yet I do not desire to be limited to such specific means in the broad application of my invention. It is also apparent that the controller mechanism does not need to be a separate mechanism such as that illustrated in the drawings, but any ordinary cock or air valve can be employed at the point of union with the air ducts, chambers 20 in the castings 21, so long as the cock mechanism i operably connected by positive means with the nailing mechamsm for the purpose of properly timing its operation therewith. Furthermore, it is apparent that only in the complete form of my device, and then only when necessary to economize the air supply, will any timing mechanism be required. Y

To operate my device, the inlet 61 of the chamber 61 of the rotary controller 60, is connected with the source of pressure supply, when a timing device is employed, with different classes of chucks, or, when such modification of the air pressure is not required, b connecting an air pipe 29 in the post 5, directl with the source of air pres- When ififerent classes ofchucks are employed, the air is conveyed through the pipes 28 and 29 leading from the compartments 67, 68 respectively of the controller throu h openlngs 18 of the outer tube 17 into-t e annular chamber 17 surrounding the nozzle-like inner tube 16, said chamber being closed atthe top, but opening downwardly on all sides around the mouth of the inner tube 16. As the course of the air at this point is downward, a is that of the falling nail which has been precipitated, in a manner-presently to be described, through the chamber 6 into said inner tube 16, the nail will continueits descent, being taken up by the air current thus carried in the same direction, passing through the union piece 23 into the nail tube 1, and thence into the respective nailing chucks 4:0, 4:0, to

which said tubes are connected.

The nails are ejected laterally from the bottom of the series of nail containing slots 4 in the chute casting 3 by means of the reciprocating slide 10, whose series of vertical grooves or notches 11 normally form the bottom end of said slots 4, and accordingly, said notches being adapted to receive the lowermost nail ofcorresponding slots, carry the nails from the slots 4= into position immediately over the chambers 6 through which the nails are thus precipitated into the tube 16 and thence into the tubes 1 in the manner described. At the same time that the slide 10 is carried into the position where its nail ejecting notches 11 register immediately over the chamber 6, the air out off slide 30 which is o erably attached thereto is similarly earrie forward so that its holes 31 are brought into registration with the bottoms of the chamber 6, and hence the nail that has been carried therein by the upper slide finds a free passageway down through the openings of the cut-off slide into the tubes 1 to be conducted into the chucks in the manner described.

After the nail has passed into the tube it is carried as far as it will fall by gravity, and then in order to insure its being carried to its destination, namely, into the chuck by which it is to be driven into the wood, the cut-off slide 30 is reciprocated in an opposite direction, carrying the holes 31 out of line with the respective chamber 6 and tubes 16, thereby interposing the body portion of the slide over the tubes 16 so as to form a complete shut-ofi' of the air at that point, to convert the entire flow of the gas in the proper direction to carry the nail into the chuck from such point where it had stopped temporarily in the tube 1.

If both horizontal and vertical chucks are used, wherein the latter drives the nail upwardly, and if it be desired to turn the air into the different chucks successively, and to continue the pressure in the latter class of chucks during a longer period than that required for operating the former, the controlling mechanism will be brought into operation whereby the air introduced throu h the inlet 61 enters the chamber 67 and t e disk 66 which is keyed to its shaft 63 and held in airtight connection with the walls of the compartments of the chamber 62 is held upon the shaft 63 in such position that at the moment that the slide 30 comes into its initial position closing the tops of the respective tubes 1, the aperture 65 in such disk is brought into position over the chamber 67 of the member 62. As the disk 61 rotates it maintains communication between the chamber 61 and said compartment 67 until such time as the nail has been delivered into the chuck 40 and is temporarily at rest within the nail receiving chamber 49 thereof. Thereupon the aperture 65 in the disk 64 passes from its position immediately over the compartment 67 to a similar position relative to compartment 68, thereby establishing communication between the su ply chamber 61 and the chamber 68 which 1s in connection with the tubes that relate to the chuck 40,- the length of the compartment 68, having been determined in accordance with the time required for the plunger of the chucks 10 to reach the nail as it is thus held inposition immediately above the plunger. After all chucks have driven their nails the aperture of the disk passes beyond the compartment 68 into the exhaust chamber 69 of the controller mechanism, said exhaust chamber being of sufficient length to receive the air until the next lot of nails have been precipitated through the openings 31 of the shut-01f slide 30 in the manner above described, when the aperture 65 is brought again over the compartment of the horizontal chucks.

While the nail is being held up against the respective jaws 41 of the chucks 40 and 40 respectively, the air is escaping through vents 51. provided in said jaws, the grooves 50 at that point being closed partially by the point of thenail entering therein. However, it is apparent that up to the time that the nail enters the groove 50, the opening and vents 51 furnish an enlarged outlet to the air which is beneficial in carrying the nail into driving position before its respective plunger.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In nailing machines, chucks with mechanically operated reciprocating plungers; means for conducting nails into said chucks; and pneumatic means for holding said nails in position to be acted upon by said pluners. g 2. In nailing machines, nailing chucks having mechanically operated reciprocal sure relatively asagna jnailing chucks for forcing nails into wood and other material; means for directing nails into said chucks comprising tubes;

means for conducting nails within said tubes comprlsing a device for creating and maintaining pressure of air-in said tubes; and means for controlling the time of said pros to the operation of said nail driving means. 4C. In nailing machines, a nail driving chuck, having yielding jaws and a reciprocal plunger operable longitudinally within said chuck in the direction of said jaws; nail supporting means comprising a nail conducting channel in said chuck, said channel coinciding at its end with a guiding channel provided therein for said reciprocating plunger; means for reciprocating said plunger into forward nail driving position wherein its point protrudes through the jaws of said chuck; means for withdrawing said plunger in the opposite direction beyond the point of the union of said nail conducting channel with said plungerguiding channel; means for conducting nails into said plunger guiding channel; means for holding said nails therein comprising pneumatic means; and means whereby said pneumatic means is made to operate only when said plunger has been withdrawn in the manner described. i

5. In nailing machines, nailing chucks and plungers therein; nail conducting tubes;

means for introducing air pressure into said tubes; and means for controlling the direction of the pressure therein comprising a shut off slide and means for timing the operation thereof with relation to the action of the plungers in the said nailing chucks.

6. In nailing machines, nailing chucks having reciprocal plungers for driving nails and yielding jaws for guiding said nails; pneumatic means for carrying nails into said chucks and holding them between the plunger and jaws of said chuck preparatory to being acted upon thereby; and means for controlling said pneumatic ineans relatively to the action of said plungers.

7. In nailing machines, nailing chucks having reciprocal plungers for driving nails and yielding jaws for guiding said nails;

pneumatic means for carrying nails into said chucks and holding them between the plunger and jaws of said chuck preparatory to being acted upon thereby; and means for controlling said pneumatic means relatively to the action of said plungers, comprising a rotatable device so constructed and arranged that air pressure is intermittently supplied to and withdrawn from the respective tubes and chucks successively.

8. In nailing machines, nailing chucks having reciprocal plungers for driving nails and yielding jaws for guiding said nails; pneumatic means for carrying nails into said chucks and holding them between the plunger and jaws of each chuck preparatory to being acted upon thereby; and means for controlling said pneumatic means relatively to the action of said plungers, comprising a disk rotatably mounted between chambered members, one of said members forming a single chamber and the other havin a plurality of radial compartments therein; said disk being provided with an aperture, and said single chamber with an inlet; means comprising the aperture in said disk for supplying successive communication between said single chamber and said compartments; means comprising the said inlet'for admitting gaseous pressure into said single chambered member; and means for connecting said chucks with said compartments in such Way that a portion thereof is adapted to receive pressure from one of said compartments and-other portions thereof are similarly adapted to'receive pressure from a different compartment of said member.

9. In nailing machines, chucks having mechanically operated plungers for driving nails therefrom; and pneumatic means for controlling the position of nails relative to said plungers to be acted upon thereby.

10. In nailing machines, chucks and mechanically operated plungers therein arranged to drive nails vertically upward; and pneumatic means for conveying nails into said chucks and holding said nails in a vertical position therein until acted upon by said plungers. 7

11. In nailing machines, horizontally poysitioned nailing chucks and vertically positioned nailing chucks; reciprocating plungers for driving nails horizontally and'also vertically upward; pneumatic means for holding nails in operable position in said chucks relatively to said plungers; and means comprising a controller for successively supplying pneumatic pressure to said horizontal and vertical chucks.

12. In nailin machines, vertically positioned and horizontally positioned chucks for driving nails horizontally and vertically upward, said chucks having reciprocal plungers therein; pneumatic means for placing nails in operable pos1t1ons with respect to said plungers, comprising pressure controlling means arranged to direct the pneumatic pressure successively into said vertlcal and horizontal chucks; and means for with chucks, of reciprocal plungers therein, means for reciprocating said plungers, means for selecting and feeding nails comprising a hopper having slots to receive and arrange the nails; tubes for transferring nails from said slots into said chucks; means for conducting air pressure into said tubes adjacent the point where the nails are received therein; means for forcing said air within said tubes in the direction of said chucks; means comprising a controller for' intermittently applying said air pressure; and means for timing the action of said controller relative to the reciprocal movements of said plungers.

14. In nailing machines, the combination with chucks, of reciprocal plungers therein, means for reciprocatin said plungers, means for selecting and feeding nails com: prising a hopper having slots to receive and arrange the nails; tubes for transferring nails from said slots into said chucks; means for conducting air pressure into said tubes adjacent the pointwhere nails are received therein; means for forcing-said air within said tubes in the direction of said chucks, said chucks being provided with vent holes, said air forcing means comprising a controller for intermittently applying said air pressure, and means for timing the action of said controller relative to the reciprocal movements of said plungers.

15. In nailing machines, nailin means for conveying nails into said chucks comprising a series of tubes; means for turning air pressure into said tubes; and a device for controlling the direction of the pressure within said tubes, comprising a reciprocating slide at the top of said tubes, said slide having a series of apertures corresponding with said tube series in the transverse section thereof the said chucks being provided with vent holes. I

16. In nailing machines, nail driving chucks, means for conveyin nails to said chucks comprising means or successively applying pneumatic pressure to different chucks, means for regulatin the duration of said pneumatic pressure 1n said several chucks and means for controlling the direction of the pressure therein.

17. In nailing machines, nail drivin chucks, means for conveying nails to sai chucks comprising means for successively applying pneumatic pressure to different chucks, means for regulating the duration of said pneumatic pressure in said several chucks,

chucks, and means for controlling the direction of the pressure therein, comprising means for closing the top-of said tubes during the pressure period therein.

18. In nailing machines, nail drivin chucks, means for conveying .nails to said chucks comprising means for successively applying pneumatic ressure to different chucks, means for regu ating the duration of said pneumatic pressure in said several chucks, and means for controlling the direction of the pressure therein, comprising a device for closing the top of said tubes during the pressure period therein, said chucks being provided With. vent holes.

19. In nailing machines nailing chucks; tubes terminating in said c. ucks for conveying nails thereinto; means for turning air pressure into said tubes in the direction of said chucks comprising valves at the end of said tubes opposite said chucks; means for feeding nails into said tubes; and means for actuating said valves and said feeding means simultaneously to admit successive nails and air pressure to said tubes.

20. In nailing machines, nailing chucks; tubes terminating in said chucks for conveying nails thereinto; means for turning air pressure into said tubes in the direction of said chucks comprising a reciprocating slide having apertures corresponding with said tubes; means .for feeding nails into said tubes comprising a reciprocating slide having nail ejecting notches therein, said notches corresponding in number and arrangement with said tubes and adapted to receive nails therein; means for reciprocatin said slide to register said notches with sai tubes; and means for registering said apertures with said tubes simultaneously with the like registration' of said notches therewith.

I 21..In nailing machines, nailing chucks; tubes terminating therein; intermittent means for turning air pressure into said tubes; means for alternately opening and closing the tops of said tubes comprising a slide having a seriesof holes corresponding in number and arrangement with said tubes; and means for feeding nails into said tubes and immediately closin the tops thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT CASSELLMAN NEFF.

Witnesses:

EDNA X. LEE, ANNA W. DILLMAN. 

